Enquirer selects the top five softball players to come out of each city school

For the better part of three decades, Battle Creek hosted the best high school softball teams in the state.

And while the Cereal City no longer serves as host to the Softball state finals, Battle Creek has continued its tradition of producing high-quality players since softball became an official MHSAA sport in 1975.

Each week leading up to the MHSAA softball finals, the Battle Creek Enquirer will count down the top five players ever to come out of Battle Creek Central, Harper Creek, Lakeview, Pennfield and St. Philip, revealing the 'Greatest of All Time' or G.O.A.T. each Friday. Then fans will have a chance to vote at battlecreekenquirer.com for who they believe is the G.O.A.T.

LAKEVIEW

5. Kim Hortman - Class of 1982

Kim Hortman(Photo: Courtesy of Willard Library)

Hortman pieced together two of the most productive hitting seasons in city softball history. A three-year varsity member and two-time All-City selection for the Spartans, she batted a clean .500 as a junior third baseman in 1981, adding 22 RBIs and committing just six errors from the hot corner. She put on a hitting clinic during her senior season in 1982, batting .508 with five home runs, 48 RBIs, six doubles and one triple on her way to All-Big Eight Conference and Class B honorable mention All-State honors. She would continue her athletic career by playing basketball at Kellogg Community College.

Nick Buckley can be reached at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley